With the Kingpin’s appearance in Hawkeye and Daredevil’s appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the mainline MCU is finally acknowledging the fan-favorite characters from the Netflix Marvel shows that were canceled in one fell swoop after Disney announced the launch of its own streaming service. Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock set the tone for Netflix’s gritty, street-level perspective of the MCU with razor-sharp writing, brutal action sequences, and a real sense of humanity.
Cox only appears in one scene in No Way Home, but his brief cameo as Spidey’s lawyer will hopefully be a stepping stone into a handful of future MCU appearances. Daredevil’s cameo in No Way Home and the Kingpin’s role in Hawkeye feel like Easter eggs confirming the characters’ existence in the “Sacred Timeline” universe ahead of much larger roles later down the line. The Man Without Fear could partner up with She-Hulk to defend superheroes in court or team up with Spider-Man to take down the Kingpin’s criminal empire once and for all or get a much-needed fourth season of his streaming show on Disney+ (or even a mid-budget R-rated solo movie).
When it premiered in 2015, Daredevil was a refreshing change of pace, met with almost universal praise from fans and critics. Not only did the series have fast-paced storytelling, captivating cinematography, and more visceral fight choreography than any other superhero show on the air; it finally did the character justice on the screen after the disappointment of the 2003 solo movie.
The Two Daredevils
Years after the vitriolic response to the Daredevil movie, Ben Affleck returned to the comic book genre to play Batman in the DC Extended Universe. This widely praised turn was one of the few elements of the SnyderVerse that wasn’t wildly polarizing. Affleck’s take on the simmering rage that Bruce Wayne deals with was hailed as a spot-on portrayal of the much-loved superhero. In Batman v Superman and both versions of Justice League, Affleck proved he can play a masked crimefighter perfectly. Unfortunately, that didn’t come through in Daredevil. In Daredevil, Affleck’s Murdock is bland at his best and brash and obnoxious at his worst. Cox’s acclaimed turn in the Netflix series gave the character the kind of depth and nuance and emotional resonance that was missing from the movie.
The 2003 Daredevil movie isn’t a total failure. Thanks to Affleck’s real-life relationship with Jennifer Garner, there’s plenty of chemistry between Daredevil and Elektra. And there’s a couple of awesome portrayals of iconic Marvel villains: the late, great Michael Clarke Duncan has a sinister take on Wilson Fisk and Colin Farrell gives a delightfully eccentric (and truly psychotic) turn as Bullseye. But in terms of portraying the Daredevil character and exploring his psychology, the movie doesn’t compare to the Netflix series.
The Favreau Connection
Whether it was intentional or not, there’s a subtle connection between Daredevil’s surprise cameo in No Way Home and the much-maligned 2003 solo movie. In No Way Home, Jon Favreau plays Happy Hogan opposite Cox’s Daredevil, and in 2003’s Daredevil, he played Foggy Nelson – Matt Murdock’s legal partner and best friend – opposite Affleck’s Daredevil. In both of these Marvel roles, Favreau provides comic relief (although it lands more effectively with the sharper writing of the MCU). Favreau’s chemistry with Affleck in Daredevil works fine, but it lacks the flair and snappiness of his dynamics with Robert Downey, Jr., Marisa Tomei, and Tom Holland in the MCU.
With his game-changing 2008 hit Iron Man, Favreau established the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If Favreau hadn’t stuck the landing with Iron Man, No Way Home wouldn’t exist. Favreau hasn’t directed a Marvel movie since Iron Man 2. For the past couple of years, the prolific writer-director-actor has been focused on building the Mandalorian-verse on Disney+, but he remained in the MCU stable through his recurring role as Happy Hogan. Although he initially played Happy as Tony Stark’s head of security in the Iron Man movies, the character has since become a sort of father figure to Peter Parker and an on-and-off love interest of Aunt May’s. Due to his connection to Spidey’s supposed crimes, Happy is one of the associates that find themselves in legal trouble when the Daily Bugle reveals his identity.
One of the most memorable moments from the Daredevil scene revolves around Murdock interacting with Happy. While Murdock assures Spidey that the charges against him won’t stick, he warns Happy that his charges will and that he’ll need “a really good lawyer.” When a brick comes flying through the window at Peter’s head and Murdock catches it without missing a beat, he quips, “I’m a really good lawyer.” Favreau’s acting in this scene is hilarious, as a flustered Happy tries to remember the phrase that the mafiosos in Goodfellas used to get out of testifying in court. If Matt isn’t available to represent Happy, maybe Elden Henson’s Foggy Nelson could take his case.
